Polk County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 19.5 | 5,228 people · 88th most distressed in Nebraska
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Polk County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 19.5 — 3082nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages keep pace with costs, business formation is healthy, and the local economy shows resilience. Within Nebraska, it ranks 88th of 93 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Polk County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 36.6 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 36.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 44
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 11
Legal Distress 33.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34
Consumer Credit Distress 21.9
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 19
Uninsured Rate 44
Subprime Credit Population 16
Structural Poverty 11.2
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 6
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 15
Housing Cost Burden 7.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 12

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Polk County, NE 19.5 Healthy —
Platte County, NE 32.7 Healthy +13.3
Merrick County, NE 31.3 Healthy +11.8
York County, NE 30.9 Healthy +11.4
Butler County, NE 26.8 Healthy +7.4
Seward County, NE 26.2 Healthy +6.7
Hamilton County, NE 17.9 Healthy -1.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Bon Homme County, SD 19.4 Healthy -0.1
Cuming County, NE 19.4 Healthy -0.1
Sargent County, ND 19.3 Healthy -0.2
Aurora County, SD 19.7 Healthy +0.2
Denali Borough, AK 19.3 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Polk County as a CSV file.

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Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 402-475-7091

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Legal aid organizations serving Polk County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of Nebraska 1-877-250-2016

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Polk County, Nebraska?

    Polk County has a County Distress Index score of 19.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,082nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 88th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Polk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Polk County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 36.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Polk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Polk County (19.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Platte County, NE (32.7); Merrick County, NE (31.3); York County, NE (30.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Polk County's score of 19.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Polk County's CDI score?

    Polk County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Polk County?

    Polk County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 5,228 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.